The Reverend Waller's Bi-Centennial

7/24/13

That seems like a normal July day to most people. It's 200 years in the waiting for me.

Today, July 24, 2013, is the 200th anniversary of the birth of my great-great-great grandfather, Comfort Babcock Waller.

This is honestly a very personal day for me. That may sound crazy to most, but it's true.

It all started with this:

My maternal grandmother's father died when she was four so she didn't remember him much. He is buried in a simple grave with a simple marker, hand-chiseled by his wife's second husband. Was he a threat dead when she died in 1944? Nope, but her second husband made sure there was an empty grave between her and Frank Waller, my great-grandfather for all of eternity.

I remember going around to the cemeteries with my maternal grandfather as a boy and watering all of the flower boxes we'd put out every spring until fall. That's when I asked about F. Waller and why he had a geranium that we kept up. That's when I learned about the past.

You have to understand that as an only child, I spent an enormous amount of time with my grandparents because they lived just a short ways away from me and I'd see them usually daily (often several times a day for hours on end). I'd do anything to please them.

Then my grandpa bought six photo albums on Sidewalk Sale day in downtown Fond du Lac, I believe in 1987 (he loved a good deal). He then asked me to help him organize the loose photos in two drawers of their desk in the bedroom. So I did. Then I heard the stories as I would ask who people were. Next thing I knew, I was typing it out on homemade biographical data sheets on their typewriter to keep everyone straight. That was the end of my leisure time; I've been hooked on genealogy ever since.

Seeing my grandma didn't know much about her dad, I wanted to help her learn. The information she gave me outside of her father's siblings (most of whom she knew), the parentage was completely wrong. She thought her father was born in Scotland in a town that started with the letter "N". When I found her parents' marriage certificate from Fond du Lac in 1902 stating he was born in Wisconsin, she was so upset, she didn't talk to me for a day! She said I had the wrong family, etc., etc. I didn't.
                                                                                                          My great-grandfather Frank Waller

 

My late Uncle Dave took me to the county Register of Deeds, introduced me to her (ironically, she had defeated his brother, the incumbent for the position) and they showed me how to check the indexes and look up the records.

I found Frank's father, Lorenzo (grandma thought it was Peter). Then I found his marriage and death records and they said his father was C.B. Waller. More digging identified him as Rev. C.B. Waller. Minister? No one said anything about minister. The initials were spelled out on one of the certificates: Comfort Babcock Waller.

The name was familiar because my great-grandfather Frank had a younger brother, Comfort Babcock Waller. I went to my grandparents' apartment and told my grandma. She said that she remembered at his funeral in 1958 that she was shown the family plot in a rural cemetery miles outside of Fond du Lac and that she was told her grandfather (Lorenzo) was buried there, along with his parents -- his father was a minister. Oh, she thought it was Methodist.

 

That was wrong too (but trust me, most of what my grandparents told me turned out to be correct, but that's another story). I looked up some obituaries and found that Rev. C.B. Waller was a Freewill Baptist minister, not to be confused with "regular" Baptists. I had no idea who they were, what their beliefs were or anything. Of course this is well before the Internet, so I was pretty much stuck.

My next lead was a marriage certificate that Rev. Waller wrote completely in his own hand for his daughter Marilla.

It listed the county she was born in back in Ohio. I contacted the county historical society who provided me with information including some records from 1840 referencing a church that was founded on his property!

Gold mine!

Of course photos would be nice. Unfortunately for my great-grandmother who was a widow at 32 in 1916, she needed a husband, quickly. Frank died April 3rd, and on September 5th, she married Clarence Thornburg. When that happened, her Waller in-laws basically said, you're not a Waller anymore. A few photos had trickled down to my grandmother and as she grew older and some of the frost melted, she was provided with a few more. She had in total five photos of her father, one of her grandfather taken shortly before his death, and zero beyond that.

I put together what I could based on the limited information that I had found and presented my grandmother with her father's biography that I typed up manually for her birthday, August 28, 1993. It would turn out to be her last, she passed away December 12th that year.

My journey did not stop, but grew more fierce. Yes, I was in college, but my thirst was not quenched. I was relentless, which I'm sure both my mom and wife can attest to. I continued to follow down any leads that I could over the years and "met" several distant relatives.






Finally, on April 1, 2004, I received an email after responding to a posting on Rootsweb.com about David M. Waller who served out of WI in the Civil War. Was anyone familiar with him? I was, it was the Reverend's son who was captured and died in Andersonville. The man had responded not only with a photo of David, but the twins....my great-great grandfather Lorenzo and his brother Alonzo, and a couple identified as "Grandma and Grandpa".









Was this the face of Rev. Waller after all these years? I was sure, but the distant relative cautioned me that it could have been on a different branch (this was through Comfort & Nancy's daughter Mary). However, the style of the photo suggested Civil War era and the "grandfather" on the other non-related branch died in 1859, prior to these types of cabinet photos. There was a tax stamp (ordered by President Lincoln) on the back of the photo he had in his custody and those were issued after the other man was dead. It had to be him. I kept thinking "This isn't an April Fool's joke, is it?".

A while later, I found another distant cousin from Ann Waller's branch, the eldest child of the Reverend. He told me that he had a family Bible and looked in it to help me update my records. He was kind enough to make photocopies and send them to me. There it was! The same photo of Comfort & Nancy Waller, identified, along with separate portraits. Comfort's even stated "Traveling preacher and cooper". I was right and beat the odds! It took me 17 years, but by God, I found it. I found it again through the Reverend's brother's family again earlier this year.

By now the Internet was quite powerful and allowed me to locate another person researching the Freewill Baptists in the Fond du Lac area. The next thing I knew, we had co-founded the Wisconsin Freewill Baptist Historical Society and found the descendant of the first Freewill Baptist minister in the state dating back to 1840. It was through this that in 2007, my wife and I participated in a Civil War re-enactment, and I was fortunate enough to represent the Reverend. It was something I'll never forget.

Focusing on the ever-growing Waller family history that I have been trying to write for the last 11 years (researching for 26), I was determined to have it written and published for the Reverend Waller's bicentennial of his birth.


Here I sit now, the deadline has come and gone. I didn't make it. Not because I failed but because so much new information has come to me since my refocusing back in January of this year, that I've found many new distant cousins, broken down some more brick walls, found more photos, filled in more blanks and through one of the cousins, even found over 70 pages of letters from the Civil War from the Reverend's son, Harlow (right).

All of this will go into the book, but I'm not there yet. I had to finally cave in to hire a professional researcher for the third time in New York because I cannot find Comfort's parents. I found his mother, but no surname. His father "died when he was quite young". I found a Comfort Waller who died in the same county the Reverend was born in, Washington County, NY, in February 1813. That means if this was his father, he never even got to meet him. Another handwritten note floated by a distant relative suggested his father's name was John. The resources in Washington County have dried up and I cannot find who his father was.

Once that link is made, the rest of the Wallers have been traced back to their origin, the Norman invasion of England under William the Conqueror in 1060. That means once I have the final link, I will have traced the family back a millennium. 1,000 years. I cannot fathom it to be honest.

I need that link for the book to be complete. Without it, I'll never be satisfied. I would rather delay the book and have everything right than hurry and continue to make updates and spend additional money for revised editions.




So here I am, 38 years old having started at 12. I had the opportunity to question three of my four grandparents and have researched all branches of my family. Some with great or limited success, others are still a brick wall, but the Waller branch has been special. Extra special for me. This is where it all started. With partial information and a scattering of photos. Now I've been able to compile a family history, starting off with the life of my great-great-great grandfather whom I knew nothing about. The draft is hovering over 700 pages right now, and growing.

Now I know that this man was an abolitionist, a minister, likely involved in the Underground Railroad as he travelled from Ohio to Wisconsin fairly frequently (and lived on one of the Wisconsin routes), had a lake named after him where he performed baptisms. I've located his mother & step-father's graves. I've not only found all of his family, and located photos of all of his children, but corresponded with at least one person in each of the branches in modern times. I have three photos of him, along with the complete original church record book from the church founded on his property in Lykens, Crawford County, Ohio, but also have photos of all of the churches that he served at. One cousin even provided me with a copy of a letter in his hand to his daughter Ann, giving fatherly advice as she left home to become a woman.

This has been one hell of a ride. I think if the Reverend Waller were alive today, he'd be surprised and happy that someone knows a little about him. I also think he'd be somewhat embarrassed that someone spent so much time focusing on him, but you know, this really wasn't about him -- it was about me. Who I am and where I came from. The story of me and of my ancestors. I've learned a lot and learned that the meaning of life, to me at least, is family. I have learned a lot from my great-great-great grandfather and I never even met him. Thank you my dear ancestor for being there, so I can be here.

 

Happy Birthday Reverend Waller,

Love from your great-great-great grandson,

Jack Copet

7/24/1813 - 7/24/2013


                                                                       CHURCHES                                             

                                      Trenton Freewill Baptist Church, Washington Co., WI

 

 

Fond du Lac Freewill Baptist Church, WI

 

Oakfield Freewill Baptist Church, WI

 

 

Waupun Freewill Baptist Church, WI

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

 

Sermon, parade raise thoughts of days past

By Audrey Juds
Correspondent

Posted: Sept. 12, 2007

The sun was beating down at full strength for Prospect Hill Historic Day on Sept. 9. As the bell in the Freewill Baptist Church was calling parishioners to the noon re-enactment of an old-time service, the Rev. C.B. Waller and his wife, Alana, led a parade of worshippers into the church.

The couple was dressed in black, much too warm for even the one-block walk from the historic buildings across National Avenue. Some of the women following them wore long dresses and carried parasols.

As organist Kay Jashinsky was playing prelude music on the antique organ, the pastor stepped up to the altar, mopping his brow. He faithfully wore the long, black preacher-style coat, much too heavy for summer weather.

We've heard how old-time preachers would give hour-long sermons. But these parishioners, who filled the place to standing-room only, fortunately got just a sampling.

I was expecting a fire and brimstone-type sermon. Waller, however, had consulted New Berlin historian Libbie Nolan, who provided him with a copy of the Rev. Ransom Dunn's sermon, "A Discourse on the Freedom of the Will."

Reading through several pages of this material, Waller told his congregation God is all-knowledgeable and wishes to see the wicked forsake their evil ways. Yet God gives people freedom to choose between sin and holiness. Waller concluded it is through this free will the historic building was named Freewill Baptist Church.

Originally the preacher was supposed to arrive on horseback, but the horse was missing.

However, it was waiting for him after the service, so Waller got to ride it the short distance back to the park and later in the parade along National Avenue.

Among the antique equipment and automobiles in the parade, was a 1945 Jeep provided by the New Berlin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

Other popular events included the Spring City Squares dance and storytelling at the schoolhouse. Some of the stories were whoppers. Civil War encampment participants added to the fun with shooting demonstrations, plus there were the usual barrel rides, family games and a raffle.

The church dates to 1859. When it closed its doors in 1925 due to waning membership, it was taken over by the Freewill Baptist Ladies Aid Society, now known as the Prospect Aid Society.

Most of this building was consumed by a fire April 11, 1985. Fortunately, it was rebuilt based on plans on file in Washington D.C., and it remains on the list of national historical buildings.

The next Historic Day event is Apple Fest on Sunday, Oct. 7. The buildings are open from noon to 4 p.m. during the four festival events held each year.

Audrey Juds is a longtime New Berlin resident who worked as a reporter covering the city for 25 years.

 

 

Fundraising mishap found in the Milwaukee Sentinel from 1860

 

 

 

 

 Detailed obituary

Publicity

 

 

 

Waller's Lake

 

 

 

 

The following are marriages that have positively been confirmed as having been performed by Reverend Comfort B. Waller. They are in chronological order:

Full name of husband	Full name of wife	Place of marriage	Date of marriage	Minister
William Hughs	Elvira (spelling?) Owen	Scott, WI	January 19, 1856	C.B. Waller
James Stanley	Mary (spelling?) P. Lefever		September 24, 1856	C.B. Waller
Melvin Cole	Marsha Multer	Scott, WI	June 21, 1857	C.B. Waller
John Ruck	Emeline Buchannan	Scott, WI	October 24, 1858	C.B. Waller
Jacob Albright	Lousia Davenport (spelling?)	Scott, WI	March 13, 1859	C.B. Waller
Benjamin Frink	May Tileza (spelling?)	Scott, WI	October 9, 1859	C.B. Waller
John Drake	Elizabeth Staatz	Scott, WI	November 2, 1859	C.B. Waller
Ezra M. Rogers	Harriet L. Hazelton	Trenton, WI	November 13, 1861	C.B. Waller
Christian Albright	Mary Young	Farmington, WI	November 26, 1861	C.B. Waller
John Myers	Elizabeth Wescott	Farmington, WI	December 12, 1861	C.B. Waller
George Rowe, Jr.	Augustine Larrabee	Trenton, WI	December 22, 1861	C.B. Waller
Edmond W. Romain	Celia P. Rusco	Farmington, WI	December 25, 1862	C.B. Waller
John G. Aupperla	Mary A. Hamilton	Trenton, WI	April 15, 1862	C.B. Waller
James Little	Amanda Ann McQueen	Barton, WI	March 12, 1863	C.B. Waller
Lyman P. Root	Ella S. Foster	Barton, WI	November 5, 1863	C.B. Waller
William Brown	Henrietta Hamilton	Farmington, WI	November 17, 1864	C.B. Waller
George Lemley	Elizabeth Norman	Farmington, WI	March 6, 1864	C.B. Waller
Fredrick Schuuhr	May Bolton	Scott, WI	June 26, 1864	C.B. Waller
John D. Taylor	Elisabeth Fliggins	West Bend, WI	September 14, 1864	C.B. Waller
John A. Lasan (spelling?)	Mary A. Houk	Scott, WI	October 6, 1864	C.B. Waller
Benjamin Brottl	Betsey A. Stevens	Trenton, WI	November 9, 1864	C.B. Waller
Asa Stevens	Martha Bullard	Farmington, WI	November 24, 1864	C.B. Waller
James W. Smith	Flora Ann Thomas	Erin, WI	January 4, 1865	C.B. Waller
James E. Cole	Elizabeth J. Drake	Farmington, WI	January 29, 1865	C.B. Waller
Jackson Williams	Martha Thompson	Farmington, WI	April 2, 1865	C.B. Waller
James P. Jenkins	Ester C. Potter	Trenton, WI	April 14, 1865	C.B. Waller
James E. Gese	Loretta Church	Farmington, WI	June 21, 1865	C.B. Waller
James A. Berrian	Imilda Wendell	West Bend, WI	August 17, 1865	C.B. Waller
Newton A. Bolton	Mary L. Norton	Farmington, WI	November 12, 1865	C.B. Waller
Henry A. Ripley	Mary A. Wheeler	Oakfield, WI	November 7, 1867	C.B. Waller
Delia Hatch	Ellen Johnston	Oakfield, WI	September 15, 1867	C.B. Waller
George R. Holt	Marilla Waller	Oakfield, WI	July 17, 1868	C.B. Waller
John Albright	Adelaide E. Taylor	Farmington, WI	June 12, 1869	C.B. Waller
Edwin E. Atkins	Frankie C. Couriet (spelling?)	Oakfield, WI	December 4, 1869	C.B. Waller
Levi Albright	Arlintha L. Ingalls	Farmington, WI	December 30, 1869	C.B. Waller
Charles M. Phillips	Laurah Oakley	Byron, WI	February 20, 1870	C.B. Waller
D.C. Jamison	Blanch J. Ross	Oakfield, WI	July or August 1871	C.B. Waller
Alonzo L. Waller	Lucy A. Beirne	Oakfield, WI	March 18, 1871	C.B. Waller
James H. Beirne	Lodena A. Hubbard	Oakfield, WI	October 1877	C.B. Waller
Lorenzo A. Waller	Listina Kun Wolfgram	Alto, WI	July 15, 1880	C.B. Waller